A few winters ago, I explored the Pacific coast of Olympic National Park on a rare sunny weekend. One of those days a colorful sunset which did its best to not betray the freezing gusts of wind hounding the coast.
Olympic National Park
WA USA
Light in the Dark
This lighthouse was commissioned over a 130 years ago to help ships navigate the narrow channels of the Puget sound. Its remarkable that the the original structure still remains today, and still serves as an active aid for traversing the canals of Elliot Bay. And it serves as a great subject for sunset photography in urban Seattle
Seattle
WA USA
Alone at Sea
During a spring hike a few years ago, I was blessed with remarkable conditions over the Puget sound. I specifically sought this location in an urban park so that I could capture the beautiful silhouette of the Olympic range. A lone sailboat happened to be at the right place to frame this scene.
Seattle
WA USA
Ready to launch
January in Seattle isn't usually known for clear skies and colorful sunsets. But this January has been quite different. Sunny weekends with colorful skies at sunrise and sunset, fresh powder in the mountains, and clear weather made for an enjoyable winter. While returning from a hike, I spied this beautiful sunset over the skyline, with the Space Needle seemingly ready to launch into the orange clouds.
Seattle
WA USA
Agua Azul
During those dreary winters, I often dream of escapades into the sunny southern latitudes to hike in a steaming tropical rainforest, drink fresh fruit juices and sip on coconut water, and cool down in a refreshing waterfall. Just like this one
Chiapas
Mexico
Misty Woods
Unlike the last photo which was taken on a sunny weekend, this one instead was on a cloudy day, typical of winter in the pacific Northwest. Instead of grand landscapes, I chose to focus on the ethereal fog that keeps the rainforests of the Olympic peninsula rather wet and moist.
Olympic National Park
WA USA
Rainier Scenes
Rainier Scenes
January in the Pacific Northwest is usually characterized by grey gloomy skies and precipitation that lasts for days on end. And rainy weekends were the norm. So it was a rare coincidence that January of 2022 had plenty of sunny weekends where one could spend the outdoors under clear skies.
On one such weekend, I headed up the slopes of Rainier to capture remarkable winter scenes like this one. Such days more than make up for the less than average daylight in the PNW
Mount Rainier National Park
WA USA
Idyll in the Wild
And finally, not all winter destinations in the Pacific Northwest are of snow-covered landscapes. There are a few low-altitude destinations that are accessible year around, and provide spectacular vistas for photography on crisp winter days. This is one such location in the Olympics that I visited on a rare sunny day in the Pacific Northwest
Olympic National Park
WA USA
Fruits of Labor
The reward for a steep climb up the slopes of Mount Rainier is a panoramic vista of the snow-capped ranges all around. With most peaks topping out at 9000ft in the North and Central Cascades, this winter destination offers a great reward-effort ratio for hikers. I chose to frame this composition with two hikers enjoying a sunny respite on a cold winter day
Mount Rainier National park
WA USA
Winter Home
Who wouldn't want to snuggle up to a mountain-top cabin like this one nestled in the winter wonderland of the North Cascades? One of the perks of hitting the snow-capped slopes here so early is being witness to pristine virgin scenes in the blue morning light. The hordes came shortly thereafter, and a few hours, this area had lost its virginity.
Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
WA USA